Method of generating motive fluid



Patented Sept. 4,. W28.

' mmson in l 'i OF HOPAQCONG BOROUGH, NEW JERSEY; LILIAN MAXIM.EXEOUTBIX OF SAID HUDSON MAXIM, DECEASED.

METHOD OF GENERATING MOTIVIE FLUID.

No Drawing.

The objectof the invention is mainly to provide a simpler, safer moreefiiclent and convenient method of utilizing a self-combustive orexplosive fuel for the generation.

of energy for the propulsion of torpedoes than has heretofore beenemployed.

In carrying out the invention, I preferably employ for a self-combustiveand explosive liquid fuel, nitroglycerin de-sens it zed by dissolving init a suitable de-sensitlzing substance orby forming a solutlon ofanother explosive substance in it, such as tr -n tromethyl-phenol,di-nitro-naphthalin, di-nitrobenzol, tri-nitro-toluene, ordi-nitro-glycerin, or other suitable solid or llqilld explosive substance or substances, and may and sometimes do employ a solution innitroglyce'rln of a suitable non-explosive combustible sub- ,stance tode-sensitize the nitroglycerin, such, 39 for example,'as gum camphor,wood alcohol,

acetone, mono-nitro-naphthalin or nitrobenzol, which latter twosubstances, although nitro compounds, still contain such a smallpercentage of combined oxygen as by themselves to be impractical orunsuitable as explosive compounds, either for the purpose of aself-combustive fuel for torpedoes or of a high explosive to reinforcethe explosive blast of the warhead of the torpedo, as hereinafterdescribed. r

All of the above de-sensitizing agents further serve the purpose ofmaterially lowering the freezing point of nitroglycerin.

I have found that when a suflicientpercent- 5 age of a suitabledry-sensitizing substance or combination of substahces, such as thoseabove enumerated, are employed effectuallyto de-sensitize thenitroglycerin and render it suitable as a liquid fuel for torpedoes, the

Y freezing point of'the nitroglycerin is thereby lowered below thefreezing point of seawater, so that a torpedo containing such liquidfuel may remain immersed indefinitely, in seawater in winter, in anyclimate, without freezing of the nitroglycerin or the crystallization ofany tion. x

I preferably employ such a proportion of de-sensitizing matter as shallrender the nitroglycerin incapable of detonation under the conditions inwhich it may be employed in the combustion chamber of a torpedo-by theaction of vaporization and inflammation for the generation ofheat forthe produtcion of the necessary gases or vapors at the requiredt8mposure,

of the nitroglycerin out of solu-' torpedo,-but the employment centageof camiphor in addition to such an ex- Application filed February 23,1922. Serial No. 447,176;

pera'ture to evaporate suflicient water to serve as an effective fuel;for driving torpedoes, as hereinafter described, and still, I preferablyemploy so small or limited .9, percentage of the de-sensitizing agent orsubstance or substances as shall renderany residual quantity of the fuelcompound, in proximity to the warhead after a run of the torpedo,capable of being detonated by the detonation ofthe warhead of thetorpedo, thereby permitting of the utilization of an residue of theself-combustive fuel to particle pate in and add to the force of theexplosive blast of the warhead.

I have found'gum camphor to be a very efficient de-sensitizer ofnitroglycerin.

Camphor has a very intense aflinity for nitrov glycerin, on account ofthe great solubility of camphor in nitroglycerin. The aifinity ofcamphor for nitroglycerin is such that but very little camphor willevaporate from a solution of nitroglycerin even after long exliquidnitrbglycerin fuel containing camphor being inadvertently spilled andexposed to the atmosphere, there will, after long exposure, remain insolution in the nitrogl erin the greater part of the camphor origina lyin solution, thereby effectually serving to prevent any quantity of theliquid for becoming sensitive and dangerous due to evaporation.

Other more volatile'solvents, such as acetone,

wood alcohol and the like, from the nitroglycerin, Furthermore, woodalcohol, acetone and the like, may be removed or washed out of thenitroglycerin with water, while it is very difficult to extract camphorfromnitroglycerin with water, the camphor being, for all practicalpurposes, as insoluble in water as is nitroglycerin. I have found,furthermore, that by dissolving in nitroglycerin another explosivesubstance less sensitive than nitroglycerin, suchastri-nitro-methyl-phenol, or tri-nitro toluene, .di-nitro-naphthalin,di-nitro-benzol, or di-nitro-glycerin, the nitroglycerin isde-sensitizectthereby, and the same purposes served as by the use ofcamphor, while the may evaporate leaving the camphor.

so that in the event of someof the added explosive material, unlike anon--explosive combustible; is capable of.contributng heat to thereaction of self-combustion-of the liquid in the combustion chamber ofthe of a small perplosive adds to its solubility in nitroglycerin.

Therefore, I may and sometimes do em- 4 ploy both an explosive and anon-explosive substance or substances for the purpose ofdedi-nitro-glycerln, or in sensitizing nitroglycerin, such, for example,

' as acetone or wood alcohol or both with dinitro-glycerin, or I mayemploy, instead of addition to di-nitrog1 cerin, tri-nitro-toluene, dinitro-benzol or trl-nitro-methyl-phenol or other suitable explosivematerial.

I some times employ a solution of acetylene gas in acetone dissolved innitroglycerin, either with or without the addition of otherde-sensitizing agents, the acetone serving the purpose of eflecting morerapid action of vaporization and inflammation of the liquid fuel in thecombustion chamber of the toredo. Furthermore, acetylene being anendo-thermic body, it is capable of generating heat from itsdecomposition or dissociation in the combustion chamber of the torpedosuflicientto render its own gases of decomposition incandescent withoutoxygen, so that by its use I am enabled to add to the -amount ofheatgenerated, while at. the; same time I lessen the roportion of oxygenin the products of com ustion, thereby rendering the gases of theproducts of combustion more reducing and less oxidizing than theyotherwise would be, which is particularly advantageousif the combustionchamber be made of tungsten or an alloy rich in tungsten, or a baflle orenflaming' plate of tungsten be employed upon which to play or jet thestream of liquid fuel into the combustion chamber, the high temperatureof the tungsten rendering complete, efficient, constant and steadyvaporization and inflammation off-the liquid fuel. As tungsten at a hightemperature is rapidly oxidized and destroyed in an oxidizing flame, theadvantage ofa reducing flame is obvious when tungsten is employed forthe purpose above specified.

i The initial Va is preferably e ected either by the employment of apilot flame of a portion of the material burned in a jet' of-air or by apilot igniter made of an explosive material, such as .smokeles powderlike cordite,

rial.

orization and inflammation black gunpowder or of a combination of blackgunpowder and smokeless powder, or of a rich in nitro glycerin.

After the initial vaporization and inflammation of the liquid fuel isefiected, the pilot flame or means of ignition maybe discontinued.

The heat evolved or generated b the inflammation or combustion of thesel -combustive liquid will be suflicient to maintain at a very hightemperature the bafile plate or vaporizing and enflaming plate againstwhichthe self-combustive fuel is pro ected or jetted in the combustionchamber of the torpedo. In the absence of such baflle plate, the heatedwalls of the chamber of the torpedowill serve the same urpose, theexcess of heat in the products 0? combustion being absorbed by wateradmitted to the combustion chamber or into the stream of productsof-combustion in their esca e from the combustion chamber, and by bemforced by the flame blast through a suita le mixingor atomizing deviceor means whereby the water is practically instantly evaporated by theabsorption of heat from the stream of products of combustion and thesteam superheated to any desired temperature, which temperature atpresent employed is about 1100 F. at the nozzle.

What is claimed is I 1. A liquid explosive for driving torpedoesconsisting of a nitro compound of glycerine holding in solution gumcamphor, and a combustible non-explosive material. I 2. A liquidexplosive for driving torpedoes consisting of holding in solution umcamphor, acetylene a nitro compound of: glycerine gas, and a combusti lenon-explosive mate- 3. A liquid explosive for driving torpedoesconsisting of a nitro compound of glycerine holdingin solution gumcamphor, acetylene gas, acetone and a combustible non-explosivematerial.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

' HUDSON MAXIM.

